Tomato seedlings growing but getting white something on top of soil - Ask Extension
Hi, I started a bunch of tomato seedlings inside this year. Some of them are getting this white/grey something on top of the soil. I repotted them a...
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Tomato seedlings growing but getting white something on top of soil #790539
Asked May 12, 2022, 7:52 PM EDT
Hi, I started a bunch of tomato seedlings inside this year. Some of them are getting this white/grey something on top of the soil. I repotted them about 2 weeks ago. I have been so careful to only water them a little bit from the bottom, and only when they were dried out. Do you have any suggestions? Should I repot them in different soil? They seem to be relatively happy and are growing, but is this white/grey stuff bad?
Also, when should I start including fertilizer when I water the seedlings?
Thanks!
Jennifer
Cuyahoga County Ohio
Expert Response
Hi Jennifer: Your seedlings look healthy! Before looking at your photos, I was thinking it could be a fungi from the soil. But your soil looks like a sterile potting medium rather than garden dirt or topsoil mix so that's good.
To me it looks like the vermiculite or perlite in the soil mix has become stained from the tannins leaching from the organic matter. Often peat or decomposed wood is used to make the organic component of potting soil. I think your plants are fine and keep doing what you've been doing.
I wish you a bumper crop of tomatoes!